Zambia derives its name from the Zambezi River. The river runs across the western and southern border and then forms Victoria Falls and flows into Lake Kariba and on to the Indian Ocean. The country is roughly equivalent to the state of Texas, about 290,585 square miles (752,615 square kilometers). There are several game parks in the country; some consider Southern Luangwa to be the best game park on the continent. The population in 2000 was estimated at 9.87 million. There exists a strong migration to urban areas where families go looking for employment. The population is comprised primarily (97 percent) of seven main tribes and a collection of seventy-five minor tribes. There is also a small percentage of citizens from other African nations. The remaining population is of Asian, Indian, and European descent. The background of the national flag is green, symbolic of the countrys natural beauty, with three vertical stripes in the lower right corner. The three stripes are: red, symbolic of the countrys struggle for freedom; black, representing the racial makeup of the majority population; and orange, symbolic of the countrys copper riches and other mineral wealth. A copper-colored eagle in the upper right corner symbolizes the countrys ability to rise above its problems. Zambia is noted for its rich wildlife and landscapes, using those resources to promote tourism with the slogan, the Real Africa. The most notable landmark is Victoria Falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, which means the smoke that thunders. It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world and even though it is shared with Zimbabwe, it is a source of great pride for Zambians. Tribal migrations in only the past three hundred years have determined the makeup of present-day Zambia. Between 1500 and 1800 the Lunda and Luba people traveled from the Congo and became a powerful group. The Ngoni, originally from South Africa, escaped from the Boers and Zulus and settled in Eastern Zambia around 1850–1870. Another powerful tribe, the Lozi, dominated western Zambia and also originated from the Congo in the late seventeenth century. By the beginning of the twentieth century, these tribal migrations had transformed the area into a complex society tied together by conflicts and trade. Zambia’s contemporary culture is a blend of values, norms, material and spiritual traditions of more than 70 ethnically diverse people. Most of the tribes of Zambia moved into the area in a series of migratory waves a few centuries ago. The group is about reviewing Zambian values that promote healthy living among a Zambian people and up hold Cultural values that make us a unique Nation.
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 22:29:13 +0000
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